5 SIimple Ways to Improve Communication in the Office

Establishing a good communication system in the office can help eliminate communication barriers that may be hindering your employees’ productivity. Eliminating the communication barriers in the workplace can improve your company’s success. Your employees will engage with one another, share ideas, inspire each other, and ultimately have a productive work environment.

Here are 5 ways employers can improve the communication at their office:

1) Have an open door policy

An open door policy encourages employees to ask questions and search for assistance from management at the company. Forbes suggests that an open door policy provides employees the opportunity to “bring difficult issues, situations, and ideas” to the attention of the managers comfortably. Opening your door to employees allows them to talk about their satisfaction with their job, the company and their colleagues. Overall, this policy opens the flow of communication in the company.

2) Invest in communication software

Programs that allow employees to instantly message each other within the company have gained popularity. Companies like Slack have created user friendly communication software that allows for instant communication in the workplace. Everyone has the ability to see what your team is doing in the public channels and departments can have private channels to discuss sensitive material. Instant messaging allows employees to reach one another promptly and effectively.

3) Send out internal newsletter

According to Florida International University, recognizing your employees for their achievements helps employees “take pride in their work” and “improve relationships” with their co-workers. Recognizing your employees in internal newsletters requires little effort and can contribute to the employee and the company’s development. Furthermore, newsletters engage the employees with the company and allow the company to update to the employees while they might be away from the office.

4) Redesign your office

Office design increases employee productivity. A study conducted showed that “office design does have a very strong relationship with employee productivity.” Consider the spatial arrangement of the work spaces designated for the employees. Situating departments near one another can help with the communication flow “and allow employees” to “share [information] faster and casually.”

5) Make it fun

We spend almost half our daily lives at work—it should be a comfortable space that allows us to live and have fun while working. A study at the University of Florida found that “workers who have a good time [at work] accomplish more.” A game area with quick games like Connect 4 can encourage employees to connect with each other and take breaks every once in a while. Game areas can cultivate friendships, make individuals happy, and engage them. Another way to encourage employees to communicate with each other is to create working areas where several individuals can huddle and collaborate. Whether it is a small room with funky couches for meetings or bean bags in the lounge, providing a space outside of their desks that’s fun can help with departmental communication and employee morale.